Enugu Monarch Wants Governments To Invest Heavily In Agricultural Sector

Posted by African Examiner Ignatius Okpara, Latest Headlines, News From The State Sunday, August 16th, 2015

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu – The Traditional ruler of Adogbalator Kingdom in Awgu Council Area of Enugu state, Igwe Chris Okoye Oti, has decried the continued payment of lip service to the agricultural sector by various tiers of governments in the country, especially in the South East zone.

He regretted that over the years, successive administrations in the region, Enugu state inclusive, had deliberately relegated the vital important sector to the background.

The monarch, stated saturday at his palace while speaking with newsmen during the 2015 Adogbaloto new yam festival, where he gave out 50,000 naira to various women dancing groups and masquerades that took first positions during competitions.

  Igwe Oti, who urged President Mohammadu Buhari, State governors, and Council Area chairmen, to have a rethink, and start investing heavily in the agricultural sector, saying if properly funded, “it has the capacity to sustain the nation,s economy, even more than oil.

The Royal father noted that apart from robust earnings from the sector, it would also boost food production in various states and country in general.

He insisted that not until Nigerian political leaders stop politicising or paying lip service to the Sector, the nation’s economy would continue to face serious problem ,especially this period of global dwindling oil price.

Igwe Oti, had also decried the total neglect of his community by past administration in the state, pointing out that since inception, Adogbalato, had never benefited from any government social infrastructure, such as good roads, portable drinking water, electricity, health facilities, amongst other amenities.

While calling on the present Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, led administration to come to the assistance, of the community, who are predominantly poor farmers, he urged the governor, to also take them into consideration during distribution of fertilisers to farmers.

The Monarch, who conferred chieftaincy titles on five women and a man at the event, for their outstanding contributions to societal development, explained that the annual new yam festival celebration had been an ancient tradition, designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the community.